Vince Gerardis, of entertainment company Startling, Inc, Seeking World Builders + Planet Killers, comes to the show to fund the next great Puerto Rican fantasy/sci-fi/fiction writer

San Juan, Puerto Rico – Attention aspiring screenwriters and storytellers: Emmy-winning television professional Vince Gerardis, best known for his work as a co-executive producer on the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones”, will hold the Island’s first script/story writing competition at Puerto Rico Comic Con 2017, from May 26-28, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan.

The winner earns a contract writing job for Gerardis’ entertainment company, Startling, Inc. and will have his or her story developed in sequential art form, as well as the opportunity for the story to be optioned into derivative media, including film, TV, video game, virtual reality, augmented reality, books, etc.

“One of Puerto Rico Comic Con’s objectives since day one has been to be a crucible of local talent in the arts. The event has become an important platform for Puerto Rican creators to showcase their work. Through Startling’s initiative, local writers will have a chance to gain crucial industry exposure beyond our shores,” said Ricardo Carrión, executive producer of Puerto Rico Comic Con.

For his part, Vince Gerardis noted, “Hollywood is not blind to the incredible creative output on the Island. This is why Startling was established here, and we chose to hold the contest at Puerto Rico Comic Con because of the incredible work they have done over the past fifteen years for the local artist scene. Our goal with this and future endeavors is to foster local talent and get them through to industry professionals.”

How to participate

The script/story writing competition will take place during Puerto Rico Comic Con; therefore, event ticket purchase is required. Participants can submit their story/script outline online at www.startlinginc.com, starting May 19, or they may bring their outline to the Startling, Inc. booth at Puerto Rico Comic Con from Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28 until 11:00am.

Story/script outline format

The outline must have a maximum of eight (8) pages and can be typed in English or Spanish, double spaced, courier font, size 12. If submitting online, please use PDF format. The following genres are accepted: comic book, superhero, science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, thriller, epic, or speculative fiction. The story must be wholly original and wholly owned; not based on any other work of any kind, written or visual, etc.

Judging

A panel of judges will read the submissions, evaluate, and declare a winner on Sunday, May 28. The winner must present his or her story in person. Stories will be judged on the following merits: grammar; style & voice; plot; character; dialogue; situation and circumstance; syntax; world-building sophistication; prose; imagination; originality; other additional merits.

The prize

The author of the winning story will receive a three-month contract with Startling, Inc. as a for-hire writer. Plus, he or she will be guaranteed to have Startling fund a comic or graphic novel based on their story. And to top it off, Startling will have the right to option the winning story into other media.

Tickets for Puerto Rico Comic Con are on sale now at www.ticketpop.com, at TicketPop locations at Walmart and Supermercados Amigo, or by calling 787.294.0001. Follow the show @PRComicCon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

The Last Defender arrives to the Puerto Rico Comic Con 2017! We are glad to announce Finn Jones as Special Guest. Also known as Loras Tyrell in Games of Thrones, come meet him on May 26-28. Limited autographs and Photo ops will go on sale tomorrow at 10 am at Ticketpop.com.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – As pop culture conventions seemingly continue to decline in scope and reach, Puerto Rico Comic Con (PRCC) defies this trend by providing retailers and exhibitors a unique value proposition fueled by fifteen consecutive years of growth. This pattern, in combination with the potential to tap into a new pool of hungry consumers, is one of many reasons why retailers and exhibitors are increasingly flocking to the region’s top entertainment event.

Ahead of PRCC’s 15th anniversary (May 26-28, 2017 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico), Ricardo Carrión, the show’s executive producer, noted that this year’s event promises to be the biggest one yet, with special guests from all areas of the entertainment industry, an international cosplay competition, a specialized video game conference, and much more, from which retailers and exhibitors stand to benefit.

According to Carrión, attendance has grown almost 20% year-to-year since 2012, with last year’s show topping out at almost 50,000 attendees. This pattern has caught the attention of retailers and exhibitors seeking a new breed of customers, with many exhibitors coming to the Caribbean island from Japan, Hong Kong, California, Illinois, Costa Rica, México, Panama, and others.

2016 Special Guest, Lana Parrilla.

Carrión attributes this phenomenon to Puerto Rico’s market peculiarities: “The island is a point of convergence of U.S. and Latin American culture, resulting in fans that are highly knowledgeable of, and passionate about, pop culture trends worldwide. As such, we are voracious consumers of all things geek. Despite global economic trends, Puerto Ricans still rank among the top spenders in entertainment, especially film, videogames, anime and manga, comics, all manner of collectibles, and more.”

A paradise for retailers and exhibitors.

Puerto Rico Comic Con is much more than a convention. The island’s idyllic location and year-round tropical climate give conventiongoers a perfect excuse to enjoy some fun under the sun as well, a chance to soak in Puerto Rico’s colorful culture, cuisine, history, natural wonders, and beaches.

T-Mobile booth at Puerto Rico Comic Con 2016Plus, logistics are not a problem. As a U.S. territory, no passport is required for travel from the U.S. mainland, and the U.S. dollar is the only currency. Also, the PRCC production team works closely with retailers and exhibitors in matters related to merchandise shipping, navigating local retailer permits and taxes, and other affairs.

With just months to go before show time, Carrión urges potential retailers and exhibitors to act quickly, as real estate in the showroom floor (over 120,000 square-feet) is selling quickly. For more information about how and why Puerto Rico Comic Con is worthwhile: prcomiccon.com and @PRComicCon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snap Chat. Phone: 787.763.0339 or via email at comiccon@tercerhombre.com.

For the first time in Puerto Rico, local cosplayers can compete for a chance to represent the Island in the 2017 World Cosplay Summit in Japan. World Cosplay Summit Puerto Rico will take place during Puerto Rico Comic Con on Saturday, May 27. Registration begins on Monday, January 30. Click here for rules and more information